You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Where do you see yourself this time next year?
Hopefully someplace where I’m less tired!

I dunno, though…

Anywho, wherever I am, and whatever I’m doing, I hope I feel creatively satisfied. Like, I’d love to explore my other creative interests more, like with lettering and calligraphy, music (learning to play the cello and the accordion have been on my bucket list forever), painting and interior design.

What do you always avoid?
Confrontation.

I’m not very good at it, so I avoid it whenever I can. Oddly enough, however, the universe regularly places confrontational people in my path, and so I’ve had to learn how to handle it a bit better.

So far, 30 people have commented on this article. How cool is that?

1. Bare skin. 🙂 I’m down with a cold.
2. My husband. He’s the best. He knows me better than I think he does and sometimes better than I know myself.
3. Hopefully fully unpacked. We moved into a new house last month. This time next year I also hope to own chickens. 🙂
4. Saying the word “gesture.” I can never pronounce it.
5. Black grapes at lunch today. 🙂

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
Normally I don’t wear anything more than concealer, mascara and blush but today I pulled out my Too Faced Natural Matte palette. I was quickly able to do a nice warm brown smokey eye.

2. Whom do you feel closest to?
I’m definitely closest to my sister and my mom. I can literally talk to them about anything. It’s hard to live in Alberta when they’re in Ontario but it hasn’t lessened our bond at all.

3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
I hope to be purchasing my first house in the country side at this time next year. I would love to purchase a fixer upper so I can basically customize my home to me. My dad will be retiring next June so I’m trying to plan it out so he can help me renovate.

4. What do you always avoid?
Answering this question…

5. What was the last fruit you ate?
I made myself a big smoothie yesterday full of berries. Does that count? Living in Canada means fresh fruit and veggies can be pretty pricey in the off season. I would love to live somewhere hot all year and eat local produce constantly.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Brown liner and malice colored cheeks, as usual!
2. Whom do you feel closest to? The Hubs, my besties and the fellas.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Pretty much where I am, right now. No complaints!
4. What do you always avoid? Probably housework and, actually, negative people now that I think of it. Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid but I always opt to in my personal life.
5. What was the last fruit you ate? Baked apples.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? It’s snowing heavily out, and I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m still in my jammies

2. Whom do you feel closest to? my SO, Jeff

3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Oh, that’s a big one! I hope my business will pick up a bit, and I’ll be doing a market research project.

4. What do you always avoid? I put off paying bills which I know is stupid. And I also avoid confrontation unless it happens spontaneously and I blurt something out without being nervous about it. Hmmm.

Allison, where are you that it is snowing?? I am in West Michigan and we have had some flurries but not sticking! On the other hand my Mom and sister live on the other side of the state and schools have even been closed!! Yes, Spring is here in Michigan.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Black mascara, taupe shimmer eyeshadow, and pink blush.
2. Whom do you feel closest to? My husband of almost eight years and my mom.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Hopefully on vacation in California.
4. What do you always avoid? Spending too much/debt.
5. What was the last fruit you ate? Strawberries and bananas.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
Nothing yet! Will probably be trying the very same palette you’re wearing today this afternoon though. I swatched it last time I went to Ulta, and I found the shadows so buttery – including the mattes – that I really had to have it. Or not, but I wanted it anyway 😉

2. Whom do you feel closest to?
My husband. I do miss the very close friendships of my teenage years though.

3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
That’s a hard question. Hopefully more fulfilled professionally, and making some form of income, lol!

4. What do you always avoid?
I’m also not very good at open conflict.

5. What was the last fruit you ate?
Grapes last night! They were so sweet and tart they tasted like candy!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Bare faced today, just moisturizer with SPF and lip balm. Going to the gym and I don’t wear makeup to the gym.
2. Whom do you feel closest to? My husband, and my two daughters. I also have several close girlfriends that I love!
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Happy, healthy, and hopefully planning a fabulous Summer vacation.
4. What do you always avoid? Confrontation, broccoli, sugar.
5. What was the last fruit you ate? A Granny Smith apple with breakfast. And I’m excited that the strawberry stand around the corner from my house is finally open!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Nothing yet. Just got back from working out at the gym. Still need to shower and primp.
2. Whom do you feel closest to? My immediate family and animals. That would be Dear Husband, Dear Daughter and her cat Nibbler, my kitty Nora and my horse Lucy.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Thinner? I hope. I started working with a trainer the week after Thanksgiving. I haven’t lost an ounce yet. In fact I’ve gained weight. I am fitter and way stronger now.
4. What do you always avoid? I’m with you on avoiding bathroom cleaning duty. If I could hire someone to come in and just clean the bathrooms in this house, I would do it.
5. What was the last fruit you ate? Avocado is scientifically a fruit, right? If that doesn’t count, blueberries on my oatmeal this morning.

So glad to hear from you. I haven’t been following the blog lately, just been a little busy. Anyway, give it a few more months, once Connor sleeps through the night, it’ll be a bit different. Anyway, here goes.
1. I am wearing Bobbi’s Nude on Nude Malted on my lid, Ivory highlighting my brown and Espresso dampened as liner (all powder shadows). So loving it. I have Slopes blush, Nude Finish Illuminating powder in Bare. I am on a Bobbi kick again.

2.I feel closest to my family (husband and son and my sister). I have a special bond with my younger sister, she is my BFF.
3. Next year I hope to be over menopause!!!
4. Like you, I avoid confrontation. I always think it is a Libra thing, but I don’t like to argue much. To me it is a waste of time.
5. I just had some nasty melon from a fruit platter with my lunch. This morning I had the best blood orange. Yum!

Take care. BTW, have you seen Bobbi’s new brow gels? I am thinking of checking them out. 20% off this week online. There goes the paycheck!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? face powder, estee lauder cream blush stick in rose, clinique chubby eyeshadow sticks in beige and fuller fudge, black mascara and lip tint in oil Cherry my Cherie
2. Whom do you feel closest to? my husband and my best friend
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? with an expanded family on the way (hopefully!)
4. What do you always avoid? eating meat two days in a row — I just don’t react well and it makes me feel sluggish
5. What was the last fruit you ate? A juicy envy apple!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
A soft taupe shade on my eyes, plum blush and a nude brown/pink gloss
2. Whom do you feel closest to?
My sister and my mom.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
Next year I hope to be able to handle stress in a better way and have more energy. A man in my life would also be nice 😉
4. What do you always avoid?
I don’t know… handle food with dirty hands maybe
5. What was the last fruit you ate?
A banana-pineapple from Madeira!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Only foundation so far, the two kiddos are conspiring against me! Baby wakes up literally 30 seconds after I get the toddler down for a nap but baby is actually just tired so he’s currently passed out in my lap “nursing”.

2. Whom do you feel closest to? The 2 munchkins and my husband, then my brother.

3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Planning to move across the country to live close to said brother since we have kiddos around the same age and we get along really well! After our parents passed away we realized it should be more of a priority. It’s going to be hard, but we’re motivated to make it happen.

4. What do you always avoid? Cleaning our shower stall *shudder*. I do it, but man I hate it. And I put my foot down on dealing with clogged drains, husband gets that job because it just grosses me out something fierce.

Good afternoon from Michigan!
1. What makeup colors today?? None, have a sinus headache and just have moisturizer and serum on my face. Home and don’t plan on going anywhere.
2. Who do I feel closest to? Gotta be the hubby and our little tripod Maltese mix rescue named Ruby
3. Where do I see myself next year? In a larger condo (husband now needs handicapped devices) on the east side of Michigan.
4. What do I avoid? Grocery shopping as I hate spending the money and then not getting the food I really want.
5. What was the last fruit I ate? Mixed fresh fruit with my yogurt!

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
I’m wearing a brown smokey eye, with some cool highlights.
2. Whom do you feel closest to?
My dad.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
Perhaps pregnant! Been debating about it with the Man for a year now, we’ll see!
4. What do you always avoid?
I’m with you Karen with the confrontation! I have a hard time. I also tend to try to avoid overly emotional people / situations.
5. What was the last fruit you ate?
Cantaloupe! I had some for my morning snack. I randomly picked one up this weekend and it was a good choice, something different.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today? Today no make up at all. I was working from home, had a new bed delivered (yeah! finally) and had a doctor’s appointment. So no need to impress anyone.
2. Whom do you feel closest to? My family: my mum and my niece especially, my friend Brigitte and sometimes occassionally to my colleagues.
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year? I have no idea… but I hope that redecorating the appartment is done…
4. What do you always avoid? Confrontation if it is something for me, but I can fight for other people or topics.
5. What was the last fruit you ate? An apple on the train as part of my dinner.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
Non, hysterical hormonal crying all morning drained me and make-up just got cut completely from the equation…
2. Whom do you feel closest to?
The fiance and my mother (plus the little alien growing in my belly)
3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
Stuck in baby-bubble and hopefully un-packing after moving to our dream home
4. What do you always avoid?
Arguments I cannot win.. I don’t really know.
5. What was the last fruit you ate?
Some strawberries and cranberries in my breakfast granola

1. I don’t have my makeup on yet today, but yesterday (Monday) I was pretty adventurous with color, wearing bright blue on my lids, a fairly bright pink on my cheeks, and a pale gold on my lips.
2. My son.
3. As an esthetician and make-up artist who is learning to draw and paint and finally working on that book with the stories about hamsters and guinea pigs. Well, OK, it might take a bit longer than a year to get there. But definitely at least as a newly-minted esthetician who is developing as a makeup artist and taking some drawing classes.
4. Demands on my time and energy to do stuff I don’t want to do. My time and energy are very limited!
5. Grapefruit 🙂 I love it cold, but it’s also spectacular if you broil it with just a little bit of turbinado sugar on top. Just use a very sharp knife to cut around each section before you pop it under the broiler, to make it easier to eat.

1. What makeup colors are you wearing today?
None yet! But I’m pretty lazy with my makeup during the week so my look will prob consist of:
Nars bronzer in laguna, nars blush in.. I forget the name but it’s a shimmery pinkish peach,some makeup forever concealer under my eyes and black maybelline define a lash mascara. If I’m feeling ambitious I might fill in my eyebrows with an anastasia pencil in dark chocolate !

2. Whom do you feel closest to?
Currently, it’s a few of my best girlfriends and of course my kitty Squirrel!

3. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
Oh man, tough question. Hopefully in a good relationship and also a higher paying job that I enjoy.

4. What do you always avoid?
Hmm I procrastinate alot, I mostly avoid anything Im worried I won’t be able to do well.